Missy
(Wonder Weasel!)
Missy
(Wonder Weasel!)
Ferrets are wonderful pets! They share many traits with cats and dogs, and are just as intelligent. When their human friends are not at home or are asleep, Brock and Missy stay in their large, two-story cage. Since they are so long and skinny, ferrets can fit into tiny 1.5" gaps, so special attention must be given to ensuring the home is safe for them to explore. Doors are kept closed to rooms that could be dangerous to them (laundry, furnace room, basement, workshop, garage), and gaps at the base and sides of kitchen appliances are blocked so they cannot enter.
Ferrets take very readily to litter box training, and are very clean animals. They may be given baths once a month, but they really do not need to be bathed. It is important to keep their nails trimmed, just like cats and dogs. They must be fed either ferret food or a very high quality dry cat food to remain healthy; Brock and Missy eat Iams. Canine distemper is fatal to ferrets, so they must receive annual vaccinations throughout their lives. Their life expectancy is around eight years.
Once a female ferret goes into heat, she remains so until bred with a male. If not mated, it is likely that she will eventually die. As a result, all pet ferrets sold in pet shops in the United States have already been spayed or neutered.
Ferrets are not wild animals; they have been domesticated for many hundreds of years. Their closest relative is the European polecat. In years past, ferrets were used by hunters to flush game out of underground burrows.
Around the house, ferrets like to interact with their humans, much like dogs. They will follow Greg and Judy around, to see what fun there might be to get into. They are very curious, and like to keep tabs on what is going on in the home.
Playtime is the forte of ferrets. They love to play like kittens, but they do not outgrow this behavior as cats do. They enjoy chasing toys on strings, and they like being chased around the house. Many cat toys work well, but toys with foam rubber must be avoided. Small pieces could be chewed off, and with such small intestines, can lead to a fatal internal obstruction.
Brock's favorite toys are six, small, fuzzy balls tied to strings. After pulling them around for her to chase for awhile, they are left out on the floor. She then methodically collects each ball, and places it in her secret hiding place under the desk. Missy likes to run through cardboard mailing tubes, and to hide under a towel, waiting to pounce upon Brock when she happens by. By placing the two into a bag and gently jostling it, wrestling can be induced, leading to a long chase throughout the rooms, and interesting noises called chortling. When exhausted, both Missy and Brock will flop down flat on their bellies and rest, moving nothing but their eyes and noses. This phenomenon is known as "pancaking".
Brock and Missy are very much loved, and a definite part of the family. Their affection for people is intense, and their antics are a wonder to behold. Ferrets truly are fantastic pets!!
